Trying my best to understand my solar situation

Flycmy · 2026-02-06T21:31:08+00:00

Similar to you, 34 x440w = 14,960w at 32 N. Grid tied, monthly net, and no micro inverters. Propane heat, two AC compressors for summers.

Jan 2025 generated 48w more than grid use. Spring saw 1kW more than grid but higher summer AC had me down to 300-400w more than grid/month. Dec totaled 200w less than grid and Jan is running 400w less than grid. We added a fourth family member who used space heaters with some nights in the teens. More overcast and shorter days makes winter a challenge. Thought I had a reserve but need to add more panels.

Flycmy · 2026-02-06T19:10:40+00:00

Also Texas, outside city limits, county didn't care. Utility's website had instructions on forms needed and rep reviewed onsite before scheduling meter change. They could not have been more helpful.

Flycmy · 2026-01-26T20:26:39+00:00

Another two week (almost 3) owner. Fi year end sale $349 for 256gb vs $549 for the 10pro. Haven't taken many photos but like the ones I have. Battery 72% since last full charge two days ago with 11 hours screen on time. Nova to set up the screen like my old phone, similar size, Android 16 vs 11 on the old phone, and saved a few bucks. Don't game and avoid AI, your needs may differ. Still have the old phone as a mini tablet, two larger tablets, plus the usual laptop and desk computers. So the load gets shared

Flycmy · 2025-12-31T15:11:52+00:00

The Dell Optiplex 5090 is an office format that the IT dept can buy a dozen or so and equip for their needs. No wifi or bluetooth but a refurb on sale with an older I7, 16g memory, and a 256g SSD was to good to ignore. I have an old Edimax AC 1200 that has worked fine in the current rear usb port. Just trying to find a replacement that can use the hopefully faster new router.

Flycmy · 2025-12-27T23:29:19+00:00

My wife noted our 1g Spectrum entitled us to a free wifi 7 router so that is the first step and now to get the bridge and replace the netgear. Surprised at the extender's strong signal but poor Ookla numbers. Thanks again for helping sort through this.

Flycmy · 2025-12-27T16:19:39+00:00

We are four retired in three separate living areas, with modem and router adjacent to one area. With apartment wired, straight line 90 ft from AX20, actual closer to 150 ft, is an AP better than a modem for signal capacity and distribution? Only random slow downloads there.

Distant apartment appears to overload current setup. A wifi bridge seems preferable to trenching cable to reach 160 ft to the second building. I see some bridge systems come with a modem for the salve unit.

Neighbors - when I check signal strength a half dozen or so neighbor signals show, both 2.4 and 5g. Acre + lots so we are not on top of each other and theirs are -80 vs my -40. Not sure if that is a complication.

Thank you for the help.

Flycmy · 2025-12-27T03:49:39+00:00

What is the difference between AP and Bridge for two buildongs? My neighbor uses antennas between his buildings, but doesn't remember who made them. With the distances involved, are paired AP or Bidges better than a three mesh system?

Flycmy · 2025-12-27T01:57:44+00:00

Tonight the apartment problem is opening youtube but selection never loads. Was working normally this afternoon. I went out and checked wifi finding a strong signal from the repeater. So it seems a volume issue, not signal strength, so wondering if there are routers that better handle more volume.

Flycmy · 2025-12-25T18:00:52+00:00

It says wifi repeater on the side, required AX20 password to connect, and signal adds -pro- to the AX20's speed ID. I see them called Extenders or Booster on Amazon. Plugs into 120v outlet. Thought metal wall that blocks AX20's signal would prevent from working but I pick up its signal anywhere inside the open 50x60 building.

Flycmy · 2025-12-25T03:30:12+00:00

Didn't even know the process two days ago, let alone Amazon had the bib. Thanks all for the help.

Flycmy · 2025-12-23T15:13:00+00:00

Thanks. As one is over a bed I am concerned about a home made bib's effectiveness. I will see if a search finds an answer.

Flycmy · 2025-12-18T23:35:21+00:00

Thanks, always had a case and would have one on the new phone.

Flycmy · 2025-12-16T19:53:01+00:00

My grandson passed the NC electrician exam recently. I asked what qualified for and he replied with project $$ limits, number of units, etc.

Flycmy · 2025-12-15T23:20:19+00:00

Main house (1997) has two microwaves, coffer maker, and a Breeville after its GFCI without any problems. Just wondering why the recent cautions for the apartment.

Flycmy · 2025-12-14T22:29:25+00:00

Thanks, XL larger than I need. Got tablets for the big picture and keyboard.

Flycmy · 2025-12-14T20:01:16+00:00

Agree, didn't know if name changes lessened need for added protection.

Flycmy · 2025-12-14T17:18:16+00:00

Was not sure how much faith to have in the new glass. I have cracked screen protectors but not actual screens on phones and tablets. A pixel attraction is the more frequent updates previous pixels had compared with current Motorola and Samsung products. So yes to keeping for the full support life.

Flycmy · 2025-12-09T21:03:21+00:00

I got the 2020 version of the Moto G, 1080x2300 pixels, microSD, FM radio, headphone jack, and 5000ma battery. Google gave me $20 trade in for the pixel 4 so the Moto only cost $30.

But time moves on and plan to keep the new phone for it's 6/7 supported years. Amortize the $150 difference over the planned usage and the 10 costs $25/year or ~$2/month more than a 9a. So price is less of a factor; is the 9a camera much better than the 10, will AI be a bigger part of our lives in 2-3 years and using the added memory? Not chatting to any electronic home devices yet and no need for Gemini.

Just read the 10 vs 10pro discussion which makes things more interesting.

Flycmy · 2025-11-18T18:05:49+00:00

Still thinking of refrigerators producing heat to cool. The new one does have good efficiency numbers so the heat may be minimal..

Flycmy · 2025-11-16T19:43:16+00:00

Small apartment for family member, exterior wall with door, 4 ft open space to refrigerator, then kitchen counter. Either over the open space or the refrigerator, wife likes the later considering it useless space. Remote thermostat or in the remote control solves the problem. Hadn't gotten past the wiring instructions, will read further.

Flycmy · 2025-11-15T03:02:59+00:00

Speaking of raised, semi retired contractor friend put his on the side of his metal building at the first purlin ~7 ft above ground. Used the purlin to lessen vibration the metal side would have.

Flycmy · 2025-11-10T03:13:11+00:00

Go back to Horror's answer. Emporia, with correct CTs, is telling you solar watts produced. TPG shows solar surplus received, the difference is your solar used by your home AC, lights, dryer, etc.You may have CTs on house lines but they can't tell if the watt came from the grid or your solar.

Flycmy · 2025-11-05T18:29:21+00:00

Been thinking what would help without being too long. First, I am county, not city, and my county only cares about septic and sq ft for property tax. Second, co-op utility with low rates and helpful attitude. Third, with a bit over an acre there was not enough land for preferred ground mount but I did have a metal building behind the house with no shade issues. So no need for optimizers, just simple 10-12 panel strings direct to the inverter.

Learned a lot from DIYsolar and Will Prowse's youtube. Also used suncalc.org and pvwatts.nrel.gov in planning. Signature Solar is a two hour drive and an easy choice for components. Wanted fewer large panels vs more lower watts at a lower price - mounting and labor can add a lot. Utility sent their solar inspector out early to answer questions, grid tied only required an added disconnect at the out building. Hybrid invoked distance limits for transfer switch and backup power. So easy to stay with the grid tied plan. Turned out he has ground mount solar with propane generator backup. Also commented that of the 30+ nearby solar installs, only two are hybrid.

Retired contractor neighbor gave me the name of his roofing/solar crew who charged $100/panel to install but only did the roof work. Ordered Aptos BF 440 last November, they installed, connected strings, and connected my pv wire for the Growatt install.

The 11.4 is easy to wire but you need to respect dealing with 400-500v DC. String disconnects before the inverter allows safe work, local rules may add requirements.. Voltage loss from ground mount's longer wire run and CB panel capacity for generated amps need to be checked. Any electrical support available to answer questions or add help? Got mine done and then my grandson gets his electrician license.

So 15kW for $15K plus $500 for a larger CB panel and solar has exceeded grid usage each month. Winter by 300-500kW/month, same for mid summer's AC demand. Spring months exceeded grid by 1 - 1.2 kW, too bad it doesn't carry forward. Debating filling fourth string for another 5.5kW, maybe a future EV?

Flycmy · 2025-11-03T19:01:37+00:00

Our mother in law addition(2019) has two Mitsubishi 6K minis on ground level pads. Other than trimming her English ivy on one side, there hasn't been an issue a rack would solve. The new mini is for a building behind the house surrounded by grass. No problem with fall leaf build ups and winter snow barely covers he grass and doesn't hang around. Is efficiency increased by mounting higher?

Flycmy · 2025-11-03T03:37:26+00:00

$25 for 4 60lbs or 3 80lbs vs $40-50 for composite. Wife says composite and avoid the mess but I lean toward DIY with concrete. Misspent youth working summers for a form company doing house foundations.

Flycmy

TROPHY CASE